About more then 25 million Pakistanis smoke, and 1,200 youth start smoking each day in Pakistan. An estimated more then 100,000 die annually from tobacco-related illnesses. In Pakistan, more than 55.3 billion cigarettes are produced.

In Pakistan, round about 50 percent of the population is illiterate and the smoking is more prevalent among poor. Therefore, written warnings have very little impact on making decision to smoke a cigarette or not. In this context, the pictorial warnings advised in FCTC are very relevant. By now 17 countries of the world have introduced pictorial warnings on cigarette packs in their countries. Those include Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, Canada, Hong Kong, India, Jordan, New Zealand, Panama, Romania, Singapore, Switzerland, Thailand, United Kingdom, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

In 2002, “Prohibition of Smoking and Protection of Non-Smokers Health Ordinance, 2002” was promulgated. The main features of the law include prohibition of smoking at pubic places like airports, railway stations, hospitals, educational institutions, offices, planes, restaurants, public transport, bus stands except for designated areas under notification; ban on smoking near educational institutions within area of 50 meters; prohibition of sale to minors below age of 18 years; regulations of advertisements. There is very slow implementation of the Tobacco Control Ordinance.

October 24, 2008 - Nigeria - House of Representatives yesterday, 10/23/2008 passed the anti-smoking bill prohibiting the smoking of tobacco in public places across the country. By definition, the locations identified as ‘public places’ include hospitals, government offices, nursery, primary and secondary schools among others. Anyone caught smoking cigarettes in public places will now be liable to four months imprisonment, N50, 000 ($436.53USD) fine or both.

The adoption followed the presentation of the report of the Joint Committee on Health and Justice on the issue. Chairman House Committee on Health, Dr. Alaba Ojomo, urged the House to consider the report which provides for the regulation of the production, importation, advertising, promotion, sponsorship, distribution, sale and smoking of cigarettes and other tobacco products.

The new law repeals the existing Act. At the plenary, members considered the report and unanimously resolved that sale of cigarettes to persons under the age of 18 years should be punishable and violators should be liable to two months imprisonment, N50,000 fine or both.

Efforts by some members to inject a clause prohibiting the sale and consumption of tobacco at the nation’s airports as well as some other places designated as ‘public places’ failed as majority of members kicked against the amendment. The House also struck out a section of the bill which prescribed a total ban on advertisements and sponsorship of events by tobacco manufacturing companies.

UST's share of the U.S. smokeless tobacco market was 57.4 percent, the same as the second quarter and down 3 percentage points from a year earlier. While smokeless tobacco sales in general have been on the rise, UST's main business, the premium segment, has suffered because of soaring gasoline prices and the weak U.S. economy.

- Response to question from tobacco analyst..

Judy Hong - Goldman Sachs..And then in terms of Snus, I know previously you’ve been a little bit reluctant to comment on Snus making any meaningful inroads in the near term. You’ve got Reynolds now rolling out Camel Snus nationwide. Do you think that they’re beginning to gain some traction, maybe faster than you expected? What are your thoughts there for Snus, generally?

Murray S. Kessler, UST's Chief Executive Officer - Our Snus test, we put it in and in selected customers it’s doing fine. I haven’t seen any change in trend that would change the opinions I’ve given you in the past. So they obviously see the numbers different than me but it still remains a very tiny piece of the category and I don’t see it building significantly in original markets in any material way. So I’m not saying it can’t over time, I’ve always been a believer, but no, there are no breakthroughs going on right now.

October 24, 2008 - Philip Morris USA Inc. (PM) argued in a filing with U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken on Thursday, October 23, 2008 that because the measure "handicaps" the company's advertising message ("suppress favorable messages about tobacco"), it violates the constitutional right of free speech. Judge Wilken will hold a hearing in Oakland on Nov. 6 on PM's request for a preliminary injunction that would stop the city law from being enforced.

The measure went into effect on Oct. 1 after Wilken on Sept. 26 turned down the Virginia-based company's bid for a temporary restraining order. The judge said Philip Morris filed its lawsuit very late - on Sept. 25 - and hadn't met the requirements for an immediate order. But Philip Morris continued its challenge with the request for a preliminary injunction, the next step in the case.

The ordinance bars pharmacies from selling tobacco, but makes an exception for supermarkets and so-called "big-box" stores such as Costco that contain pharmacies. It applies to about 60 pharmacies in the city, most of which are Walgreens drug stores. Walgreen Co. filed a separate challenge, based on a claim of discrimination, in San Francisco Superior Court, but on Sept. 30 a trial judge declined to grant a preliminary injunction in that case.

City lawyers have argued that the measure has nothing to do with free speech because it regulates conduct - cigarette sales - and not advertising.

October 24, 2008 - No Downturn for TobaccoCigarette makers Philip Morris International Inc. (PMI) and Reynolds American Inc. (RAI) display sales resilience as other industries struggled with a pullback in the third quarter while consumers watched banks collapse and markets teeter.

PMI's profit rose 20% in the third quarter as sales climbed, and it benefited from favorable foreign exchange rates. PMI, which was spun off in March from Altria Group Inc., reported net income of $2.1 billion, or $1.01 per share, in the quarter that ended Sept. 30. It earned $1.73 billion, or 82 cents per share, in the same period a year ago. Revenue climbed 22% to $17.37 billion. The company also affirmed its full-year profit forecast for 2008 and increased its quarterly dividend.

Reynolds American raised its full-year forecast even though profit fell 41% on hefty restructuring and trademark charges. The results still topped expectations as the tobacco company used higher prices (and cost savings) to offset consumption declines (cigarette sales volume declined 7.5% in the 3rd quarter). The net income slid to $211 million, or 72 cents per share, in the three months ended Sept. 30. It earned $358 million, or $1.21 per share, a year ago. The maker of Camel, Pall Mall and Kool brands said revenue dipped 1% to $2.27 billion, coming in just above Wall Street's $2.25 billion forecast.

2009 - "There's some things on the horizon, primarily the tax hikes, which are looking more and more likely, that may push prices up to such a point where consumers may start trading down (lower-priced options)," Morningstar tobacco analyst Philip Gorham, said, adding that "2009 will be the litmus test" for brand loyalty.

October 23, 2008 - The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices is recommending smokers aged 19 through 64 years of age should be vaccinated with pneumococcal vaccine. The committee also recommended smokers who receive pneumococcal vaccine also undergo stop smoking counseling," Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) spokesman Curtis Allen said by e-mail.

If accepted by the CDC, it would be the first vaccine recommendation aimed specifically at smokers. Smokers account for half of otherwise healthy adults with serious pneumococcal infections.

Studies have shown that smokers (more than a fifth of U.S. adults), are about four times more likely than nonsmokers to suffer pneumococcal disease. Also, the more cigarettes someone smokes each day, the higher the odds they'll develop the illnesses. Why smokers are more susceptible is not known for sure, but some scientists believe it has to do with smoking-caused damage that allows the bacteria to more easily attach to the lungs and windpipe, said Dr. Pekka Nuorti, a medical epidemiologist with the CDC.

October 23, 2008 - JTI today, 10/23/2008 announced the results of its Japan Smoking Rate Survey, a study that has been carried out annually since 1965. Based on official population figures from the Statistics Bureau of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications that in April 2008 put Japan’s total population at 104.22 million, including 50.23 million men and 53.99 million women, Japan’s smoking population is 25.7 per cent of the total population, down from 26.0 per cent last year. Japan has about 26.80 million smokers, down from 27.00 million last year, according to a survey carried out in May by Japan Tobacco Inc, which has been conducting annual surveys since 1965.

The number of male smokers was down from 20.16 million last year to 19.84 million this year, while the number of female smokers was up from 6.84 million to 6.96 million. According to the survey, 39.5 percent of men are smokers, down from 40.2 per cent last year, while 12.9 percent of women smoke, up from 12.7 per cent.

October 23, 2008 - Reynolds American Inc.'s (RAI) R.J. Reynolds Tobacco's 2008 third-quarter cigarette volumes declined by 7.5 per cent from those of the third quarter of 2007 and the company’s market share fell by 0.8 percentage points to 28.2 per cent. About 45 per cent of the third-quarter volume decline was said to have come from non-support brands, including some low-margin brands that were de-listed.

As a result of portfolio strategy change reclassified Kool as a support brand. R.J. Reynolds will focus on investment brands Camel and Pall Mall. The focus will be on building Camel's overall volume and share, and strengthening its position in the growing menthol category by driving growth of Camel menthol styles. Camel delivered modest 3rd quarter growth with retail cigarette market of 8.1% up 0.1 share points.Pall Mall, the other growth brand, continued strong volume share growing in the 3rd quarter, with a retail share of 2.75, up 0.5 percent from the prior year quarter.

RAI smokeless company, Conwood posted another record quarter, with $98 million in operating profits. That's a 10 percent increase over last year's quarter, with Grizzly continuing to deliver double-digit growth. The moist snuff category is growing at an annual rate of more than 7 percent, and Grizzly continues to represent almost half of all category growth. Grizzly's 3rd quarter share of shipments was 23.4 percent, up 2.1 percentage points from the prior-year period. Contributing to the growth of Conwood's flagship brand was the strong performance of Grizzly's two newest styles - Grizzly Snuff and Grizzly Wintergreen Pouches which were both introduced nationally this year.

October 22, 2008 - PMI cigarette shipment volume of 225.9 billion units was up 4.0% for the quarter, driven by EEMA (Eastern Europe, Middle East, Africa), Asia and Latin America & Canada, partly offset by a decline in the European Union (EU). On an organic basis, excluding acquisitions, PMI's cigarette shipment volume was up a robust 3.2%, benefiting from particularly strong performances in Argentina, Indonesia, Korea, Russia and Ukraine.

Total cigarette shipments of Marlboro of 80.3 billion units were up 1.1%, with growth in EEMA, Asia and Latin America & Canada, partly offset by a decline in the EU. Total cigarette shipments of L&M of 24.0 billion units were down 3.6%, with a decline in EEMA partially offset by growth in the EU. Led by double-digit growth in EEMA and an increase in the EU, total cigarette shipments of Chesterfield grew 14.6% versus the prior-year quarter. Total cigarette shipments of Parliament continued to record strong growth, up 15.8%, driven by gains in EEMA. Virginia Slims grew 3.6%, driven by gains in EEMA and Latin America & Canada. Shipment volume of other tobacco products (in cigarette equivalent units) surged 36.2%, fueled by strong growth in France and Poland.

PMI has completed the successful acquisition of Rothmans Inc. in Canada. The Rothman stock was de-listed on October 20 and PMI now owns 100% of the company. The Canadian business results were incorporated into the Latin America and Canada region as of September19, but were immaterial for Q3 results.

October 22, 2008 - The Framework Convention Alliance an organization of groups advocating for tighter tobacco controls, started the death clock when negotiations on the global tobacco treaty began on Oct. 25, 1999.As of 9 a.m. on Oct. 20, 2008, the number had reached 39,776,437 lives lost. One person dies every 5.8 seconds from causes linked to tobacco use, researchers estimate. "Every number was a family member and a loved one," said Mary Assunta, head of the alliance.

Lower-income countries are experiencing the steepest rise in smoking, with China and Indonesia among 10 nations where almost two-thirds of the world's smokers live, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

The clock serves as a "reminder of the sheer needlessness of this epidemic," said Douglas Bettcher, director of the WHO's Tobacco Free Initiative. "This is an epidemic that is affecting the poorest of the poor."

Instead, the electronic ID system has led to a shift in the way cigarettes are purchased: smokers are unwilling to go through the process of applying for a card now feed their habit in convenience stores. “Before Taspo, the channel share was 50 per cent vending machines to 30 per cent convenience stores,” said Masaru Yoshimoto, project manager at Synovate (Synovate is one of the world's top research firms.) “Now convenience stores have 50 per cent and vending machines 20 per cent.” Marketing activity is growing in this environment - at the counter, there are promotions with, say, a limited-edition box with a unique lighter. They are trying to drive sales from the convenience stores.

Overall cigarette consumption is falling. The Japanese puffed 260 billion cigarettes last year (2007), a 17.1 per cent decrease compared to 2002, according to Euromonitor International, which forecasts an additional 16.3 percent decline to 218.2 billion sticks by 2012. The smoking population is also heavily male: in 2006, 48 per cent of males aged 15-plus and 18 per cent of women smoked.

Dominating this contracting market is Japan Tobacco. Last year, it had a 66.2 percent market share, followed by Philip Morris International with 24.3 percent and BAT with 8.4 percent.

October 21, 2008 - Gallaher's (owned by Japan Tobacco International) Silk Cut cigarttes will next month launch in the United Kingdom a range of "Superslims", which will be sold in "perfume-shaped" boxes designed to appeal to image-conscious women. Deborah Arnott, director of the Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), "Silk Cut is using the terminology 'super slim' to make the link between smoking their product and losing weight."

October 21, 2008 - A Saudi court will begin hearing a lawsuit on Tuesday, 10/21/2008 filed by the Ministry of Health against agents of international tobacco companies in the kingdom. Health chiefs will demand compensation of $2.6 billion and an annual compensation of $133 million for the expenditures incurred on the treatment of smokers when the General Court in Riyadh opens.

Health Minister Hamad Al-Manie said he was confident that his ministry would win the lawsuit since it provided statistics and medical data that showed how smoking destroys people’s health and eats away at social spending connected with smoking-related medical treatment of citizens. “We’ll go ahead with the lawsuit unless the tobacco companies paid the full amount of compensation ... I will not and neither will the ministry forsake the rights of patients,” he said.

Arabian Gulf states in general and Saudi Arabia in particular are some of the biggest tobacco importing and consumer countries in the world. Saudi Arabia tops the list of tobacco importers, according to 2007 statistics. Iran is placed second, followed by Jordan, Turkey, Morocco and Egypt.

According to Dr Wael Safwat, a gastroenterologist and smoking cessation specialist, prices and warning signs alone will not affect cigarette sales; there needs to be a change in the society’s perception of the smoker. He recommended increasing non-smoking areas as well as anti-smoking campaigns. He also suggested the formation of support groups that can help smokers quit.

In May 2008 smokers were hit with a 10 percent rise in the cost of a pack of cigarettes. A young construction worker buying the domestically-made Cleopatra cigarettes said he has no choice but to pay the difference for the cigarette cost.He said smoking is one of the few ways he can relax. He was at a corner shop buying five packs of Cleopatra cigarettes at about 75 piasters extra a box, or about 14 cents more per pack. "How can I quit smoking. People who smoke can't just give it up," he said, "What are we supposed to do but pay the difference?" ) Egyptians Concerned After Parliament Votes to Increase Fuel Costs, Taxes, Voice of American by Aya Batrawy, 5/7/2008.)

October 20, 2008 - In the 18 days since San Francisco banned pharmacies from selling tobacco products, convenience-store retailers (c-stores)have seen cigarette sales rise sharply. But many believe the good fortune will be temporary. "My sense is that they will go after convenience stores," Ray Huff, president of Denver-based HJB Convenience Corp.

October 19, 2008 - As part of the Women's Health Initiative** (WHI) the association between potential risk factors and subsequent clinically important abdominal aortic aneurysm events (repairs and ruptures) in women was assessed. It was found that women who smoke are eight times more likely to suffer a potentially fatal rupture of the body's largest artery, the aorta, or require surgery to repair the weakening that can cause such a rupture, than nonsmokers. (The aorta is the main artery carrying blood from the heart. An aneurysm is a weakening or ballooning of the blood vessel, a process that can take years to develop, often without symptoms. Some 15,000 Americans die each year when an abdominal aortic aneurysm ruptures, 40 percent of them women.)

The large prospective observational cohort study with mean follow-up of 7.8 years found events occurred in 184 women and were strongly associated with age and smoking. Ever smoking, current smoking, and amount smoked all contributed independent risk.

** - The Women's Health Initiative (WHI) launched in 1991 was a major 15-year research program to address the most common causes of death, disability and poor quality of life in postmenopausal women -- cardiovascular disease, cancer, and osteoporosis. WHI consisted of a set of clinical trials and an observational study, which together involved 161,808 generally healthy postmenopausal women (aged 50-79).